Howard Van Der Pol, 85, of Pella passed away Aug. 4, 2025. Visitation will be 3-6 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 7, at Trinity Church, Pella, where the funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Aug. 8. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Pella. Memorials may be designated for Hospice of Pella Comfort House or Many Hands for Haiti.
Howard Henry Van Der Pol was born March 5, 1940, to Sarah (Willemson) and Alexander Van Der Pol at home on their farm south of Sully. He was the third born of five children. Howard attended Battle Creek Country School and graduated from Lynnville-Sully High School in 1958. He met Betty Blom at the Newton Roller Rink. They were united in marriage on Apr. 6, 1962, at Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella. Howard and Betty lived in Pella where he worked at the Pella International Store as a parts man. Howard then quit his job and became the first in his family to attend college. He earned a BA degree in business administration and economics from Central College in 1966. During college, Howard spent his summers working on the Red Rock Dam driving a Yuke dirt scraper. After his graduation, Howard and Betty moved to Monroe. Howard was hired by the Maytag Company for accounting and later became director of manufacturing, retiring after 36 years. Howard and Betty moved from the Monroe acreage to Pella in 2022.
Howard and Betty have four children: Doug Van Der Pol from Oskaloosa, Don Van Der Pol in heaven, Debbie Van Der Pol in heaven, and Julie Harrington from Ankeny.
Howard taught Sunday School and served as a Deacon and an Elder at Trinity Church in Pella.
Howard was a man of many talents. He enjoyed praising God in song, accompanied by his wife Betty on the piano. Later on, he encouraged his children to sing, lifting up their voices to the Lord. He also planted, cared for, and managed trees, donating many trees to the Monroe Recreation Park. As a hobby, he restored several cars and collected tractors. Howard and Betty also went on mission trips to Mexico, Belarus, and Russia. They spent numerous winters in Gold Canyon, AZ, enjoying the desert landscape and card parties with friends and family. He had fond memories of hosting family and friends on their pontoon boat.
Howard loved his family. He was proud of his children and grandchildren. They remember him sharing stories, giving advice, and attending as many events as possible. Countless memories were made at holiday gatherings, Sunday lunches, and fishing at their pond. The grandchildren looked forward to four-wheeling on the path he created, boating, and picking mulberries off the trees with Grandpa. There was not a day that went by that Howard did not think about his children in heaven, Don and Debbie. Before he passed away, he wanted his children and grandchildren to understand how precious they are to him. He will be greatly missed.
Howard is survived by Betty, his wife of 63 years; two children Doug (Joni) Van Der Pol and Julie (David) Harrington; six grandchildren; his sisters and brothers-in-law: Darlene Kool, Janice and Gene Kaisand, Mary and Rich Terpstra, Phyllis Vander Pol, Jim Blom, and Phil Blom. He was preceded in death by his beautiful children, Don and Debbie Van Der Pol; his parents; his parents-in-law Ernest and MaryJane Blom; his brother Dave Vander Pol; and his brother-in-law Allen Kool
